K-Electric under fire as child loses arms to high tension wire

Both the child's arms had to be amputated to save his life

KARACHI: Both arms of an eight-year-old boy had to be amputated after a high-tension wire of K-Electric fell on him outside his home on the third day of Eidul Azha. A team of doctors at Civil Hospital Karachi's Burns Centre managed to save the child's life after hours-long efforts.

The eight-year old boy, Muhammad Umar, was critically injured after a high tension wire fell on his left arm in Ahsanabad, a town adjacent to Gulshan-e-Maymar on August 24. The boy promptly used his other hand to try and remove the wire, but the high voltage quickly gripped his body and caused severe burns on both the arms.

According to the family, Umar was on the way to get groceries when the incident took place. Umar's parents rushed him to Burns Center at Civil Hospital Karachi where he underwent an hours-long surgery. While the doctors were successful in saving the child's life, both his arms had to be amputated.

Umar's father, Muhammad Arif, who works at a private company, told The Express Tribune that the child was one of three siblings. "My son is an extremely intelligent child and used to bag the first position every year," he said. "Umar had promised me that he would retain the first position this year as well".

Umar's parents rushed him to Burns Center at Civil Hospital Karachi where he underwent an hours-long surgery. PHOTO: COURTESY VICTIM'S FAMILY

Arif accused the K-Electric's management of negligence which had caused a chronic disability to his child. He added that the power supply company had not replaced its age-old wires even after frequent complaints about malfunctions.

"It was the faulty wire that made my son handicapped for life," he lamented. "The K-Electric is responsible for the incident." The victim's father said that the K-Electric and various government officials had only paid lip service on the media, but no one had reached out to him yet.  "I want to ensure a better future for my child," he demanded.



For its part, the KE's spokesperson said they were "deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident and sympathies are with the family." He added that the company would extend all possible support to the family, including the payment of the victim's medical bills.

Governor Ismail also took notice of the incident and ordered the Karachi Commissioner to initiate an investigation into the matter. He also directed the authorities to ensure all facilities for the child's treatment.

Later, an FIR was lodged by the child’s father against the KE management of Gadap IBC at the SITE Super Highway police station.